A retroviral drug for HIV infection used in combination therapy.
Brand name Ziagen.
A medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.
Similar to other nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), abacavir is used together with other HIV medications, and is not recommended by itself.
It is taken by mouth as a tablet or solution and may be used in children over the age of three months.
Associated with hypersensitivity reaction manifested by fever, rash, abdominal pain, and respiratory distress, and is potentially fatal.
Risk of hypersensitivity significantly higher in patients with human leukocyte antigen allele HLA-B 5701.
Before prescribing this agent routine screening for HLA typing should be performed.
Pregnancy category US: C (Risk not ruled out)